Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the
world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to
over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a
wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history,
humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced
features available, you will need to register first. Registration is
absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

Remembering O-Sensei : Living and Training with Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido

From the Publisher:

Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), founder of the Japanese martial art of Aikido, is one of the greatest and most beloved martial artists in history. Remembering O-Sensei is a portrait of Ueshiba as told by his uchi-deshi, the students who lived and trained with him as his disciples. This collection of memories—gathered here for the first time—captures the essence of this extraordinary martial arts master and visionary, revealing Ueshiba's teaching style, his daily habits, his philosophy of life, the lovably human aspects of his personality, and his deep belief that Aikido could be used as a means to creating peace and harmony in the world.

The book also provides a snapshot of a fascinating time in Japanese history when a student would apprentice with his master by essentially moving in with him and receiving instruction through rigorous training sessions, and also by serving him and observing his actions in daily life. Most of the students whose remembrances are included in this book went on to spread the teaching of Aikido throughout the world and became masters in their own right.

Rather than focusing on the technqiues of Aikido, it focuses on the memories of people who trained with O'Sensei. It helped make him more three-dimensional and real to me. There were aspects of his way that became clearer as I read from different perspectives.

I enjoyed the humor and humanness of many people politely trying to understand his somewhat esorteric explanantions of Aikido principles. He said he saw trying to teach people how to move their minds, not just their feet. This book helped that.

This book is from people who have been there and got the t-shirt from the main man himself.

Cons:

Not enough pages to put everything donw ;0)

This book was given to me as a gift from my students and out of all the books I own, this has quickly become my favourite.
It does not tell you how to put your foot here or your hand there. It makes O\'Sensei more human for me and I feel a lot closer to him in the dojo now.
The people who have given their thoughts and memories are very lucky and honoured beings.
Many thanks for this insight into O\'Sensei
Tony Hudspith